multiverse

American  

[muhl-ti-vurs] / ˈmʌl tɪˌvɜrs /

noun

1. Physics. (in cosmology) a hypothetical collection of identical or diverse universes, including our own.

   It is impossible to know how many universes could exist in the multiverse.

2. a collection of linked fictional settings composed of multiple alternate dimensions, different timelines, etc..

   The video game is overall a more accurate representation of the franchise's multiverse than its card counterpart.

---

multiverse British  

/ ˈmʌltɪˌvɜːs /

noun

1. astronomy the aggregate of all existing matter, of which the universe is but a tiny fragment

---

multiverse Scientific  

/ mŭl′tə-vûrs′ /

1. The collection of parallel universes that comprise all of reality in some quantum mechanical and cosmological theories.

---

Etymology

Origin of multiverse

Coined by William James in 1895 in the sense “the universe imagined as lacking order, unity, or a single ruling and guiding power”; multi- + (uni)verse

---

Explanation

The term multiverse is used in both physics and fiction: It refers to a theoretical collection of universes that may exist alongside our own, though we cannot experience the other universes directly. While the actual existence of a multiverse hasn't been proven, it remains an intriguing idea that suggests that our universe might be just one small bubble in a much larger reality. The term swaps the uni- prefix (meaning "one") of the word universe with multi- (meaning "many"). The concept of a multiverse is not limited to theoretical physics. It's also a storytelling device used in video games, movies, and books to explore alternate "what if" scenarios.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

multiverse

That film also reunited all three Spider-Men — Holland, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield — in one time-bending, multiverse storyline, a move “Spider-Man” producer Amy Pascal described as 20 years in the making.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

Their third Spider-Man film together saw multiverse chaos break out after Peter's identity is revealed, with MJ by his side.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

Characters from both soaps will come face-to-face for the first time in the one-off Corriedale, which executive producer Iain Macleod jokes is "like the Marvel multiverse assembling".

From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2026

He replied, in absolute earnest — “I’m sure it has, in most realities. We’re just living in the one branch of the multiverse where it hasn’t.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 9, 2025

Elsewhere in his essay, Greene does not hide the fact that many of his fellow physicists think that string theory and the multiverse are extravagant and unproven.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---